A man was convicted by a jury in the Central Criminal Court yesterday of raping his girlfriend's seven-year-old daughter in Dublin.
The victim had told the jury during a six-day trial: 'I wish he was dead because I hate him for what he did to me.'
The 33-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in continuing custody by Mr Justice Carney to May 6th next for sentence.
The jury took almost three hours to return unanimous guilty verdicts against the man on charges of anal rape and sexual assault of the girl in their Dublin flat on March 15th, 1997.
He was also found guilty by a unanimous verdict of anally raping her in the flat on an unknown date prior to March 15th, 1997.
He had faced a total of nine charges of anal rape and sexual assault of her relating to two Dublin locations and one in another county. Six of the charges were withdrawn.
Mr Justice Carney thanked the jury for its attention and added: 'These cases are upsetting to everyone involved in them. Your service is much appreciated.' He exempted the jury members from further jury service for 10 years.
The girl told the trial that the defendant had raped and sexually assaulted her while her mother was out at the shops on March 15th, 1997. She said he 'highed up' the television so that no one would hear her screams and crying as he raped her anally on his bed.
She said the abuse happened on a number of other occasions and included both vaginal and anal penetration.
Her mother said she had been knocking for some time at the front door before she found her own door key and let herself in after shopping on March 15th, 1997. The defendant was naked and the girl was only half-dressed.
The court heard that the defendant admitted the abuse when questioned by gardai on March 15th and again on March 30th, 1997.
The defendant also gave evidence and claimed he was naked when his girlfriend returned from the shops because he had been in bed sleeping off a hangover caused by his alcoholism.
He also claimed he was coerced into making the admissions following verbal abuse and assaults by gardai. Garda witnesses rejected his claims.